Government statistics show trucks account for almost one-quarter of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

But the semi also piles on the chaos at Palo Alto, California-based company.

According to TechCrunch, it's a two by two four-seater and will be available in 2020 starting at $200,000, with 1000 Founder's Series models being sold retailing at $250,000 each.

It was then that the Palo Alto-based automaker pushed back its 5,000-per-week production goal for the auto - from the end of this year, to late in the first quarter of 2018.

Tesla says the Semi will be able to do more number of trips than a diesel truck in its life span. The company is not alone in trying to reinvent the trucking industry and make it more green.

Musk, too, is being pulled in many different directions.

The tech entrepreneur's projects also include high-speed transit, artificial intelligence research and a new company that is digging tunnels beneath Los Angeles to alleviate traffic congestion.

"He's got so much on his plate right now".

In describing the truck, Musk also said its windshield is made of "thermonuclear explosion-proof glass" - a feature he says will help truckers stay on the road.

Like all Tesla products, the Semi comes with impressive acceleration and horsepower. Some analysts expect it to get around 200 miles per charge and be used for daily tasks like transporting freight from a port to a distribution center. Thanks to the low cost of running it, buyers should make back the additional cost in just two years, Tesla claimed.

Tesla Inc. faces an uncertain road ahead as it moves aggressively to enter the crowded US trucking market. Demand for electric trucks is expected to grow over the next decade as the U.S., Europe and China all tighten their emissions regulations. The Roadster will have a range of 620 miles, he added. They can also be charged overnight.

"While Tesla's truck announcement will unquestionably create a lot of buzz, the company has incorrectly aimed its sights", he said. Speeds can reach up to 104 kmph, which is more than what the diesel trucks achieve, while the battery range is around just above 800 km at highway speeds.

Could this be the electric truck the world has been waiting for? It faces stiff competition from long-trusted brands like Daimler AG, which unveiled its own semi prototype last month. The company, one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, said that it had "placed a reservation to purchase multiple Tesla Semi tractors" though did not specify exact numbers.